A moment to be thankful!

 I know this is the day after but I don't think giving thanks to God should be set aside for just one day out of the year.

We had dinner here at my house this year. Since 2008 we have been going to Tahoe to celebrate our Thanksgiving [because of the loss of my mother; it was a nice change], but not this year. We stayed home and had a great time of just being together.
My husband and my daughter spent time in the kitchen learning, helping and enjoying each other's cooking. I on the other hand layed on the couch with a very bad headache, lol... but I have to say; it was so nice to just snuggled up with no responsibilities and no children needing my undivided attention. It was glorious bliss.

My husband, Cynthia, Sean, Julian with my older sister and Danny's older brother and mother enjoyed the comforts of my home. I kick myself because I didn't take a group picture *ouch* so sad.
Spending time with family is always or should always be a wonderful time. But I do have to say that wasn't always the case when I was a child growing up..

So what do I have to reflect on to be thankful for??
1. My husband was home for this holiday. He was not on the road somewhere far away from his family.
2. My daughter was off from work and was able to spend time with us as well. It was good to see her happy and finding herself in the kitchen with her daddy :) *memories*
3. Danny's brother, woody and his mother came and spent time with us. I'm thankful for Danny's mother, that she is still with us celebrating these holidays with our family.
4. My home has never looked better and I'm thankful for that. With all the remodeling and painting it's no longer an embarrassment to have people over, lol...
5. My preschool is coming along and I love how it is looking. The other wonderful thing about it is, the fact, that because my business is from home it makes me accountable to keep it looking fresh and presentable at all times. AND makes everyone else in the house-hold keep it clean... I LOVE IT!!! :D
6. My older sister Rose was here with me as well. She always spends Thanksgiving and Christmas with us because we only have each other [the other three sisters being so far away in AZ]. Since my mother died we have created a bond between us and sometimes I just don't see her enough. I love my sister, she is a gem
7. I'm thankful for five families the Lord has sent my way. They have been a tremendous help to me at  getting my preschool started. I will forever be grateful to them! They have helped from small jobs to supplies to a web-site... Jesus you are so good!!
8. I'm thankful for our animals, lol. I really am, they keep my youngest busy and entertained. Living in a household with four adults, has got to be hard on him most days. We find his best moments here at home with his dogs. They are truly his best friends!
9. I'm thankful for family ties... We all work together to keep our home, to make ends meet and to take care of the littlest in the home; Julian. I really believe he makes our live continue forward and helps us keep what is important into perspective.
10. I'm thankful for 'Freedom Christian School'. It has come into our lives at just the right time. I love the staff and the child-centered teaching. It goes above and beyond with all the children supporting families and churches. The Godly instructions is absolutely amazing as well. We are blessed.

With all this said; I am truly thankful. And not only with these ten I mentioned but for many, many more moments I couldn't ever post in one day. For it would take a life time.
So today on this extremely lazy day... Beautiful I have to say, the weather is absolutely breath taking; sunny, cool fall weather *gorgeous*! I'm blessed and could never thank the giver of all these things enough. He is the giver of life and He has giving not only me but my family as well, LIFE!! Life new and life everlasting. We have purpose and we have a reason to lift our hands in thanksgiving!!

**To GOD be the glory**

Beautiful country...

rest stop in Idaho

I was able to go on one of Danny's truck driving runs .

And the country side was absolutely gorgeous!!

As a matter of fact everywhere we went it was breath-taking.

We would stop at rest stops to sleep and I just couldn't believe the beauty.

quiet, peaceful, lush, clean, serene places to rest our weary heads.

At this stop the mood, set by the beauty and atmosphere of the area,

was wonderful displayed by this man who was sitting alone,

 overlooking the mountain side, just playing his guitar.

As the sun was setting for the night there was a stillness,

as we watched the wonderful hand of God at work.

Gorgeous, breath-taking, majestic... 

♫♪ We could sing of your love forever ♪♫ 

**A Moment to Remember**

ONE year later; The finished product ;-D

Well, here we are one year later with a finished kitchen ;) lol

Yes the last time I posted about paint and a new kitchen was October of last year.

You can read about it here.

Here I am painting the ceiling. I have to tell you this was a bigger project than I expected.

I'm thankful I had all this wonderful help from friends.

MANY friends...

Dawn's idea of the splatter setup behind the stove.

AWESOME idea, Dawn!! I love it!!

You can purchase those at your local Lowes ;)

Taping was another boring, menial task *ugh*

But when It was all done we were all so very proud.

three different coats of pain later. From top to bottom.

New rugs, place-mattes, towels, wash clothes and light fixtures.

It was extremely impressive... I never thought...

*sigh*

Thank You LORD for all who helped, it was a wonderful;

*MOMENT TO REMEMBER*

YES, you have my heart for always & forever!!

Saturday, Sep. 24th, I had the worst migraine Iv had in a very long time (since June or July) I was extremely unfit to be around :( it was just awful, it made me extremely sick... It was probably the worst Iv had in months :(
When I'm like this, I usually stay to myself because I know how I can be... I'm unreasonable, short tempered, irritable, and extremely touchy; and I'm not proud of it; as a matter of fact I STRONGLY DISLIKE it.
I got up from the couch all sweaty from being under the cushions. I was looking a mess with my hair all matted (for I had been laying under there all day) from sweating. As I moved, my head felt like It was going to crack open... I was sad indeed... lol.
My husband was sitting in the room and I didn't realize it till he says, "Hey lovely, how you feeling?" well, I wasn't feeling all that great >:/ don't ask.. "I have something for you, can you sit up a minute and listen...
Really?!? You're asking me to sit up and listen for a minute?? But I kept my thoughts to myself and sat up very slowly, knowing it was my head giving me the sarcastic thought and not my husband sitting across form me.
He tells our son (Sean) to turn up the computer and proceeds to dedicate this song to me. Yup, I began to cry  ='/ I was a mess. The tears were hot and I couldn't open my eyes (the migraine doing a work on me). When I was able to open them, my husband was sitting across from me singing with the song and in tears as well.

♥♥Now I need to say this: And it is all to the glory of my wonderful Savior. Every year around our anniversary time. Danny and I cry; sing, hold, reflect, and caress each other. We whisper words of promise and thank God for another year of forgiveness, love, grace, mercy and our family. We feel extremely blessed that God made another year together possible because at one time,  it shouldn't of been so.

**It was a Moment to Remember**

A Mother and A Daughter

A mother and daughter out on the town, hoping to regain new ground.
We spent time on a long drive and watched the ocean waves come alive.
It was a wonderful time of togetherness I will never forget
for one day I will reflex when you decided to leave my nest.
I love you forever, Cynthia. Your beauty and your grace
continue to seek God, seek Him face to face.

A mother's treasure is her daughter. 

~Catherine Pulsifer

A daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend. 

~Author Unknown

A Mother and A Daughter...

I say to you how much you have grown,

you say to me "I wish it was not so"

but yet, I ask you to slow down your pace,

you say to me, "But I love running this race"

I wonder where the time has gone

and you wonder where can it go wrong.

but then some things do go wrong

and you find yourself singing that sorrowful song

I wish to keep you from all the hurt and pain

and you begin to wish for that simple life to regain.

I'm here to share this time with you

and show you the Love of Jesus anew

for all of eternity and all of time

from all the filth and all the grime

growing is not always what we seem to think

which somehow throws us these horrible kinks

but I'm thankful for you and for Him

that we can begin a new life again

just reach out to Jesus and  again I say amen

for He lives within my heart

and I am here to help you with Him to 

give you a fresh start.

Love Mommy♥

~Ruby Bisiar

One BIG heap :)

Julian was soaked from getting caught by a wave and rolled out into the water. We changed his T-shirt with an extra one I had and he still was freezing. I tried to warm him up but instead we fell in a heap. I love this kid!

Our little family; Julian, Dad and I. Went up north to Fort Bragg, CA.

It was a cold, windy, cloudy day, but extremely relaxing!

We drove up on Thursday and found a place to rest than made our trek on the beach the whole next day... It was a day to remember and a wonderful memories for my 8 year old son.

I wore a short skirt and flip flops and a sleeveless hoodie... needless to say a froze my tail off, lol!

Mackerricher State Beach offers a variety of habitats; beach, bluff, headland, dune, forest and wetland. We visited the tide pools that are along the shore and found all sorts of interesting critters. We tried taking many pictures to bring home rather than the critters themselves, lol.

Later we took a walk along the sandy beach and found where the Seals were sunning themselves and nurturing their new born babies... it was very fascinating! There was a kind woman with her telescope who invited Julian to watch the seals on the shore much closer. He exclaimed so many times how he felt he was right next to the seals and their babies.

 *AMAZING*

There were many birds flying low and all around over our heads. We were told more than 90 species of birds visit or live near the beach. We sat for a very long time but did not spot any whales. But we did listen to the wonderful sound of the waves coming into shore... Watching the waves crash and spray the rocks on shore was a beautiful picture I was not so lucky to capture on camera :(

but I will never forget it's sound and the wonderful relaxed state it puts me in...

*sigh*

If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea.
Even there Your hand shall lead me. And Your right hand shall hold me.
- Psalms 139:9-10

It's a very popular park/beach at least with our family and enjoy every minute we have there... in it's complete splendour! to our God be the glory... what else can I say??

I'm always thankful I have times like this to reflect on my LORD and my little family and my wonderful life...

*A moment to remember*  

Bad Weather

Bad weather always looks worse through a window. 

~Author Unknown

My son always wants to head out the sliding glass door to our backyard and play in his imaginative world, but today's a very bitter, cold, rainy day and I don't think it would be a good time to be in the yard. This 8 year old is very active and can't seem to just sit in the house and read a book, listen to stories or play with his Lego's. Why do I think he should or would?

He is determined to go into the rain like it is just another sunny day.

One thing I love about my son is his personality.

"Mom it's not cold! Please, I want to go play outside!"

As I look thru the window I can see the weather is getting bad, 

"No, Julian, I don't think it is a good idea... there is lots of mud and I bet it is extremely cold."

His insistence pays off and I quickly tell him to play for just a little bit.

As I look thru the window the sky is growing dark, the trees are swaying in the wind and the rain is hitting against our sliding glass door.

That is when I notice our neighbors windmill just over our fence... it is banging roughly against the fence and twirling at a magnitude speed...

OK, he needs to come in, I bet it is severely cold out there!

As I open the door the bitter cold wind hits my face and rain splatters on my glasses.

"Julian! You need to come in, it's absolutely freezing out here!!"

As I continue to step outside, not dressed for the weather... I realize the extreme cold. But I also notice the sound of rain, the smell of wet mud, feel the cool, chilled wind and see the beautiful gloomy clouds...

It's gorgeous out here!!

The windmill is doing its work and letting me know how windy and stormy it's becoming.

Yes, it is absolutely freezing standing out here without a coat to cover my thin blouse and short skirt. But it's beautiful... Julian is playing in the yard oblivious to the storm, lost in his own world as I watch the windmill do it's work.

I don't know how long I stood there watching this windmill, loving this time outside in the stormy rain, listening to the beautiful sounds, but by the time I headed back inside I was wet and chilled to the bone. 

I decide to get my camera to capture this windmill and...

 remember this moment.

A good cup of joe

Here in the valley is has been extremely COLD and a cup of HOT COFFEE has been the only thing that has been able to warm me down to the tips of my toes. It has been the one and only thing that taste great, not only in the morning but all day long ;) and the aroma is most invigorating!

Coffee has become my very best friend and we get along quite well

*snicker*

This hot beverage made from beans of a tree is exceptionally tasty when freshly brewed

*Ummm*

I know there have been many studies on the negative effects of caffeine, but I have also found some positive input about this brown hot stuff called java.  

"There is some evidence that coffee drinking may be protective against gallstone formation (amongst other pros) in both men and women"

With Gallstones being part of my family history, I will not argue the point and will gladly drink my daily dose, if not more, of a good cup of joe!

And now I must take my leave for I smell the rich aroma of brewing espresso and will have my much needed dose of joe before these gallstones begin to form ;)  

**SWEEEET**